Tom Hambridge - Blu Ja Vu

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2023
Time: 44:03 
Size: 101,8 MB 
Label: Quarto Valley Records
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Ain't It Just Like Love (featuring Buddy Guy) - 4:33
 2. That's My Home (featuring Joe Bonamassa) - 2:47
 3. Wear You Out - 3:05
 4. Blues Don't Care (featuring Christone "Kingfish" Ingram) - 2:54
 5. Sick With Love (featuring Rob McNelly) - 4:13
 6. Automatic - 2:57
 7. Symptoms Of Love - 3:37
 8. Brother John Boogie (featuring James Cotton) - 2:47
 9. Get Out Of Town - 2:26
10. Smarter Than I Was (featuring Josh Smith) - 5:05
11. Johnny Winter - 3:09
12. Meet Me In Chicago (featuring. Rob McNelly) - 3:33
13. End Of The Line - 2:52

Tom Hambridge is a triple threat and perhaps the greatest secret weapon in the blues. He's an excellent drummer, an accomplished songwriter with his partner Richard Fleming, and a helluva producer who has worked with just about everyone in the business. As a result of being one of the busiest men in all of the blues, he doesn't get much of a chance to put out his own albums. When he does put out one, like his cent release Blu Ja Vu, it's a reason to rejoice. Of course, when he peppers it with friends like Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, and James Cotton, it becomes a must have disc.Other musicians include Hambridge on drums, percussion, and vocals; lead and rhythm guitars Rob McNelly; Bob Britt on guitar; Tommy MacDonald on bass; and Kevin McKendree and Jon Coleman on keyboards. Background vocals are by Emil Justin. Some of the other guest musicians are Josh Smith on guitar; Chuck Leavell on keyboards; and Glenn Worf on bass. The first track kicks off with Buddy Guy joining in the fun. Ain't It Just Like Love has Guy on guitar and vocals and McKendree's piano gets a strong workout. It's a raucous number that cements my thoughts that this is going to be a fun and exciting album. Next up is That's My Home which features Joe Bonamassa on vocals and guitar. His signature pyrotechnics are in full force and this song is a great follow up to Ain't It Just Like Love. This is a strong song. The following song, Wear You Out, growls its way into your ears. Hambridge's vocals are tough and menacing and play nicely off of McNeely's guitar licks. One of the rising stars of the blues, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, features on Blues Don't Care. The lyrics are clever, and Ingram's guitar and vocals command the spotlight. This is a highlight on an already stellar album. Rob McNelly's guitar gets a real workout on Sick With Love. It gives strength to a song that if written and played by someone else might just become too sentimental. This version is exciting and has a real bite to it. One of the great blues tropes is the American automobile and Hambridge takes one out for a spin in Automatic. Not being a car guy, I will admit to not understanding many of the lyrics, but the song still made me want to get up and dance. Symptoms Of Love is a pounding, driving number and Hambridge's drummng and MacDonald's bass carry the song.Janes Cotton guests on the hard rocking number Brother John Boogie. This instrumental runs at the speed of a runaway freight train with no brakes. Just hold on and enjoy the ride because there's nothing else you can do! No guests on Get Outta Town but don't be upset, Hambridge and Company do a great job on this number. Especially McKendree's piano. Think of it as an updated version of Get Your Kicks On Route 66 and just enjoy the stellar musicianship. Josh Smith's guitar livens up the next song, Smarter Than I Was. How many times do we come out of a relationship with a better understanding of things than we had before we went in? An homage to the late great Johnny Winter follows. Hambridge wonders why Winter is not in the Hall Of Fame. After all, Winter "should have his name up in lights." Yes, the song is presented in a lighthearted manner, but the subject is very serious. Rob McNelly plays some mean guitar on Meet Me In Chicago. The song is fast paced, just like the city, and really pushes the envelope. Sometimes it's easy to forget just how good a drummer Hambridge is because of his other strengths in songwriting (here with Robert Randolph) and producing. Great little travelogue of The Windy City. "I'm the last one to turn out the light," sings Hambridge on End Of The Line. It's a poignant way to end the album as he looks back on his life and feels like he has still more to do. I can truly identify with the song as I ponder my own mortality while trying - in my own little way - to keep the blues alive. Powerful number. Tom Hambridge's work is impeccable, and Blu Ja Vu is easily one of the best albums of the year. Given his schedule, it can be difficult to catch him live but if you hear even a whisper that he is appearing near you, immediately purchase your tickets as you won't be disappointed. He's that damn good.

Blu Ja Vu